Seguloth [book of Charms and Potions]. Manuscript in Hebrew and Yiddish, Aschkenazic cursive script in black ink on paper

(KABBALAH)

Eastern Europe

18th-century

Of unclear origin, a fascinating and rather bizarre manual of “practical kabbalah,” containing folk-remedies and protective (“white”) magic. Practical kabbalah is essentially preoccupied with the manipulation of the spherical powers to affect the physical world. Jewish “white” magic was based largely upon the manipulation of the sacred, esoteric names of God and the angels. Those who knew its secrets, were known as “Ba’alei Shem.” The present manual of practical kabbalah contains remedies for all kinds of problems A selection: Male impotence is a major concern. "To love one's wife, take the brain of a raven and rub with it the organ and testicles when you have relations with a virgin" (f.1v.). Some of the magic recipes are of a somewhat perverse nature: “To achieve magic whereby women will disrobe themselves and stand before you for your amusement, take the blood of a rabbit, dip a wick in it, insert the wick in a candle and light it in the middle of the house, and you will see wonders” (f.4v.). Includes an astrological chart to determine compatibility of a male and female. The twelve months of the year are divided between the four elements: fire, air, water and earth. "If the man is born under the sign of fire and the woman under the sign of water, she will bury him, for water extinguishes fire…" (f.1r.). On ff.1v., 5v., and 10r. we have examples of the so-called “Angelic script” as found in the mystic work, Raziel HaMalach. In Raziel too, the script is employed as a charm, however, the recipes are different. On f.8v. there is a charm for fishermen to attract an abundant catch, quoted in the name of of "our Rabbi" (mi-pi Rabbenu). And on f.9v. there is a tradition from R. Chaim Leib, of blessed memory, concerning a protective formula to be uttered in a place of danger. A charm supposedly revealed by Asmodeus (Ashmedai), King of the Demons, to King Solomon concerns a barren woman: Take the tongue and gall of a raven, dry them out, pulverize them in a mortar, give the woman to drink the powder [with water] on the night of her immersion and she will immediately conceive" (f.11v.). The final magic formula in the collection is designed to render one impervious to fire (ff.13v.-14r.). Numerous love potions appear throughout